Classic and vintage commercial vehicles go under the hammer with Ely auctioneers Cheffins.

The iconic Jack Richards collection will be at the Cambridge vintage sale at Sutton, near Ely,on October 20.

The 11 vehicles were collected by Jack Richards, founder of Fakenham-based haulage company, and have all been lovingly restored.

Oliver Godfrey, director, Cheffins said: “It is with a heavy heart that the family are offering this collection for sale.

The Jack Richards collection goes up for auction at Cheffins.

“Following Jack’s sad death in 2014 aged 90, the private museum remained open to visitors and was enjoyed by many.

“However, in recent years the level of visitors waned and the wonderful collection was no longer being appreciated.

“The family are offering the collection for sale due to continued business expansion and would like to offer others the opportunity to purchase these vehicles and enjoy them as Jack had done.

The Jack Richards collection goes up for auction at Cheffins.

“There is a symmetry with the collection being offered for sale at Cheffins saleground at Sutton, near Ely, where Jack himself had spent in his early years in the RAF.”

The vehicles range from 1946 to 2000 and include manufacturers such as ERF, Seddon, Albion, AEC and Bedford.

The collection was painstakingly complied by Jack Richards from 1998 and saw him scour the length and breadth of the country, sourcing not only vehicles but also spare parts to aid with restorations.

With the help of his son, Anthony, the collection was completed in 2010 which was housed in a bespoke building near Fakenham and opened to the public as a museum.

One of the highlights of the collection is a 1946 Seddon MK5 diesel lorry which is believed to be the second oldest Seddon in the country.

This was fully restored in 2004 and has an estimate of £20,000 - £25,000.

Another of the classic commercials is a 1946 ERF C15 diesel wooden dropside lorry. This was restored and recommissioned at the Jack Richards Collection and into the grey and red livery in 2013.

It has an estimate of £20,000 - £25,000.

There is also a 2000 diesel tractor unit which was built at the Sun Works in Sandach, Cheshire and sold new to Jack Richards and Son Ltd, where it clocked up 660,000 km in its five years of service.

The lorry was given the registration number ERF 999Y to reflect its last of line status, as 999 is the last number obtainable on a Y registration.

This is an unique opportunity to buy a part of the Jack Richards Ltd fleet and the last ERF lorry to roll of the production line at Sandbach. It has an estimate of £10,000 – £15,000.

The first lorry bought by Jack Richards was a 1948 Bedford ‘O’ Type, which he acquired in 1956 for £150. After undertaking various haulage jobs transporting fruit and vegetables to various markets around the UK, he upgraded to a Bedford ‘S’ Type for the princely sum of £470.

The newly-purchased lorry was an ex-Lucozade delivery lorry and was finished in a dazzling yellow. Mr Richards had planned to paint the lorry in a grey and red livery.

However his wife, Glad, took a liking to the colour and therefore it remained and can be seen adorning the fleet to this day.

• The sale is on October 20 at Cheffins Machinery sale ground, Sutton, CB6 2QT. Visit the Cheffins website or call them on 01353 777767.

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